Valencia: The Perfect Holiday Destination

As Spain’s third largest city, Valencia is busy and modern metropolitan that is sometimes forgotten. This in no way means it is not worth a visit. The Spanish coastal city is edged on the banks of the Mediterranean in the east of the country. It’s brimming with culture, food, shopping, parks, beaches and nightlife. It’s a must to put on any visit to Spain.

Although I can’t tell you what to do, if I could I would say visit Valencia. And here’s why.

The city is close to both Madrid and Barcelona. It’s just 350km south of Barcelona and the same distance Southeast of Madrid making it very easy to access from either city. Getting to Valencia by train would be most recommend as the train system in Spain is fast, safe and affordable. Taking the train from Barcelona to Valencia or from Madrid to Valencia only takes a few hours and there are many departures each day.

Next, there are many things to see and do on your visit to Valencia. The city has amazing architecture both old and new. One of the most stunning and famous buildings in the city is the “City of Arts and Sciences” building that is as visually stunning as it is purposeful. Here is where you can discover the planetarium, IMAX Theatre and an oceanarium. The oceanarium is one of Europe’s largest and the Oceanographic of Valencia is quite impressive. Other building to discover here are the La Lonja de la Seda or Silk Exchange. This building is a UNESCO landmark. OR the Valencian history museum and Fallas festival Museum are unique only to Valencia and must be discovered while in the city.

If you prefer to spend your time outdoors there is plenty to see and do around the city. There are a handful of beaches within the city limits to relax, catch a tan and dip into the warm Mediterranean waters. There are also a large amount of wetlands, parks and lakes with many kilometers of pathways and walkways to explore. Just outside of the city there is a hot springs to bathe in the country hillside. The waters are said to keep it’s bathers looking young and beautiful. This may just be an old wives tale though. For a culture experience one must try the delicious food and drinks in the area. The city is full of world class dining and more importantly delicious Spanish fare.